The size-selective synthesis of folded oligomers by dynamic templation

A dynamic pool of m-phenylene ethynylene oligomers generated by sequence ligation using the imine metathesis reaction was equilibrated under a variety of conditions, and the mixture of products was analyzed by HPLC. The equilibration was performed in the presence and absence of rodlike ligand 2b, which exhibits an affinity for the helical oligomers that is very length specific. Among the eight oligomers generated during metathesis equilibrium, the formation of 22-mer 6b was enhanced in acetonitrile in the presence of 2b. This particular oligomer has the highest binding affinity for 2b. Quantitative analysis by HPLC of the products indicated that 6b was produced in 66% yield in the presence of 2 equiv 2b while a 37% yield was produced in the absence of 2b. Judging from the binding affinities of oligomers 6 with 2b, the equilibrium shifting was driven by the selective binding of 6b with 2b.